Flooding of the Seine River in Paris made international news this last weekend. The BBC reports that the flooding reached a peak at 20 feet (6.1m) and hundreds of towns and villages were affected. Museums such at the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay were closed over the weekend in order to move precious artwork out of basement storage areas and several metro lines were temporarily closed. All boat activity was suspended since there wasn't enough room to go beneath the bridges.
I happened to be visiting Paris for a short weekend break and saw the flooding firsthand. It was really quite incredible. Streets and walkways along the Seine were completely covered. In certain parts around the city, water was bubbling up from storm drains.
However, in such a big city, life must go on, and on it went. Many areas weren't affected by the flooding, and tourists were simply displaced to other tourist attractions throughout the city. Luckily, the banks along the Seine river are mostly stone throughout the city of Paris, so there is minimal damage and things should return to normal within about a week or so. However, other towns along the Seine outside of Paris may be facing much more time to deal with lost homes and businesses. The French Prime Minister has announced that those people will be given "emergency help."
All in all, it was an interesting time to be in Paris. Between the flooding and continuous rail strikes that are happening in France on one hand and visiting friends, cultural visits, and culinary delights on the other, I can at least say that Paris keeps me on my toes!
